Michael Dighton has been dumped from Tasmania’s Pura Cup side as the Tigers search for a way out of second-last spot. David Dawson, who has not played a state match since 2005-06, has been recalled to the top of the order.Tasmania, the defending champions, have only won one match this season and they have decided to shake up their regular opening partnership for the bottom-of-the-table clash against Queensland starting on Monday at the Gabba. Michael Di Venuto, who announced during the week that this would be his final summer with Tasmania, is set to partner Dawson.Dighton has averaged 20.50 from his six matches this campaign and has had the least productive season of all Tasmania’s specialist batsmen. Dawson was a standout in the Tasmania Second XI side this week, scoring 105 and 53 against the Western Australia Second XI in Hobart.Tasmania squad Michael Di Venuto, David Dawson, Travis Birt, George Bailey, Daniel Marsh (capt), Dane Anderson, Tim Paine (wk), Luke Butterworth, Jason Krejza, Brett Geeves, Chris Duval, Ben Hilfenhaus.
South Africa will be forced to go into their opening World Cup fixtureagainst Netherlands at Basseterre without any last-minutepractice, after persistent drizzle in St Kitts left the team with nooption but to call off their training session and return to theirhotel.”It’s not ideal and unfortunate,” said South Africa’s coach, MickeyArthur, “but we have worked hard in the last few days and the guys areon top of their game so there was no point in just going out andrisking a possible injury.”South Africa’s preparations were slightly complicated by the latearrival of their chief strike bowler, Makhaya Ntini, who stayed hometo attend the birth of his first daughter. He has now landed in StKitts, but is not expected to take part in tomorrow’s match.But, after a week dominated by the war of words between South Africaand the Australians whom they recently superceded as the world’s No. 1side, Arthur was looking forward to getting on with the competition.”I think we are comfortable with where we are with our preparation atthe moment,” said Arthur, who added that his players were not takingthe Dutch challenge lightly. “We have actually dug deep on theNetherlands, and have got a lot of information and video analysis. Wemanaged to trade off with Ireland – they gave us info about theNetherlands, and we gave them info on Pakistan.”Arthur added that he was particularly impressed with the top three inthe Dutch batting line-up – Darron Reekers, Bas Zuiderent and, inparticular, their South African-born Essex allrounder, Ryan tenDoeschate, who has it in him to be one of the stars of the tournament.”ten Doeschate is their best player,” said Arthur. “He’s a goodcricketer and he bowls good areas.”Arthur confirmed that, to neutralise Netherland’s two “big units”,Reekers and Zuiderent, South Africa would emulate Scotland’s strategyof standing their wicketkeeper, Mark Boucher, up to the stumps. “I thinkit’s something that all keepers expect when they come to the WestIndies,” said Boucher. “When it’s subcontinental conditions you haveto do that sort of thing.”Boucher added that he was unfazed by the lack of practice his team hadgot for tomorrow’s match. “We’ve had four years to practice,” heshrugged. “Getting the job done is what matters. We’ve learnt somehard lessons in past World Cups, so we want to be clinical andprofessional.””We’re a lot better side than them [Netherlands] on paper,” added Boucher.”They’ve got two or three dangerous players, but if we go out thereand concentrate on what we can do, we should have no problem in goingthrough.”
A captain’s knock by Haidee Tiffen helped New Zealand defeat India by five wickets in the second ODI at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln. Tiffen’s 66 came at more than a run-a-ball, as New Zealand easily chased 158 in only 28.2 overs and gained a 2-0 lead in the series.Sent in to bat, India struggled to put up a challenging score after a steady start, with the openers Karu Jain and Jaya Sharma putting on 57. After Sharma’s dismissal for 30, India lost wickets at regular intervals and were unable to step up the run-rate and finished on 157 for 7 in their 50 overs.Anna Dodd, the offbreak bowler, bowled a tight spell, returning with the economical figures of 2 for 19 from 10 overs. In reply New Zealand set out on their chase scoring at a brisk rate. Tiffen, who struck six fours in her innings, missed her chance to score the winning runs, stepping down the track, only to be stumped by Jain off Devika Palshikar when the scores were level.
Wellington 222 for 8 (Parlane 70*, Adams 4-37) v Auckland ScorecardAn unbeaten 70 by Neal Parlane saved Wellington the blushes and carried them to a somewhat respectable 222 for 8 on the first day of the State Championship final at Eden Park in Auckland.Wellington won the toss and chose to bat, but were soon regretting that decision as Kerry Walmsley and Andre Adams, Auckland’s new-ball bowlers, reduced them to 15 for 3. One of those dismissed was Matthew Bell, Wellington’s captain, for just 10. Parlane steadied the innings, adding 65 for the fourth wicket with Jesse Ryder (30), and then putting together 54 with Chris Nevin, who contributed a quickfire 35. Wickets continued to fall at the other end, but Parlane kept going, consuming 158 balls for his knock, which included 11 fours.Adams was the most successful bowler for Auckland, taking 4 for 37, while Walmsley took 3 for 75.
Henry Olonga has repeated his call for international teams to boycott Zimbabwe on moral grounds.His comments were a reaction to news that the England & Wales Cricket Board had delayed making any decision on its planned tour next year. “What is important is not just cricket but the continuing repression of the people in Zimbabwe,” Olonga told the BBC. “The country will lose as a whole if opportunities like this are not taken to try and highlight the plight of the people of Zimbabwe.”It would be pertinent for all countries that have a cricketing relationship with Zimbabwe to acknowledge the situation in Zimbabwe now. But I don’t think we’re going to get a strong stance from any other country than England.”Olonga admitted that were England to withdraw then the already precarious finances of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union would suffer, but he said that with other countries prepared to visit, it would survive.”It will have a financial impact on Zimbabwe cricket, but Zimbabwe is more than just a cricket team. It’s more than just television rights,” he explained. “It’s about five million people potentially facing starvation and that cause to me is more important than any cricket tour.”
The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) has been accorded the privilege by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to conduct the third one-day international between India and Zimbabwe at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi, on March 13, 2002. This is the third one-day international that the KCA is conducting at this venue.The fixture will be a day match, played with coloured clothing and white ball.The KCA has made elaborate arrangements to make this event a success.Tickets this year have been priced reasonably and are currently in the process of being printed. The rates are as follows:Patron: Rs 1000 Chair: Rs 600, Rs 400, Rs 250 Gallery: Rs 100 Students Gallery: Rs 80 Both teams will arrive in Kochi on March 12. They are expected to have a practice session and pre-match press meet in the evening.The State Bank of Travancore has been appointed as official bankers for the event. Tickets will be available at their branches throughout the State.This year the KCA has awarded rights of in-stadia advertising to 21st Century Media Publications, New Delhi. All interested advertisers should go through them to place in-stadia advertising.As in previous years, extra effort has been made to provide suitable amenities to the public on the day of the match. Toilet facilities, drinking water, and food at reasonable prices will be made available at various points in the stadium.
After Robin Singh bowled Delhi to a first innings lead in theirencounter against Services it was Ashish Nehra’s turn to come good inthe second innings. After securing a 32 run lead, Delhi made 235 intheir second essay.Akash Chopra (46) and Pradeep Chawla (69) made the only noteworthyscores of the day as Rao, Maitrey and Ghag snared three wicketsapiece. Delhi were dismissed for 235. This left Services with a targetof 268 for victory. However, any joy for Services was short lived asleft arm seamer Ashish Nehra bowled a decisive spell. In a 9 overburst that yielded 5/25 Nehra reduced Services to shambles. AmitBhandari with 2/34 and Rahul Sanghvi with one wicket made Services’misery complete. Sanjay Verma with an unbeaten 29 provided the loneresistance as Services slumped to 83/8. Tomorrow, the last day will bemore than enough time for Delhi to wrap up the match.
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe faces the possibility of being without a key player for today’s Premier League clash with Chelsea.
The Lowdown: Magpies missing…
The Magpies have enjoyed an extraordinary run of form over the last two months, with Howe now aiming to all but seal his team’s place in the top flight for 2022/23.
Newcastle are unbeaten in their last nine Premier League matches, winning six of them, with their last league defeat coming against Premier League frontrunners Manchester City in mid-December (Transfermarkt).
The St James’ Park side have racked up 19 points out of their last 21 matches, putting a 10-point gap between themselves and the bottom three – a feat made all the more extraordinary given that they’ve had to cope with a few injuries in that time.
Federico Fernandez, Callum Wilson and Kieran Trippier are among the players to have been sidelined, with an update now coming to light on star player Allan Saint-Maximin.
The Frenchman returned from his own knock recently against Brighton but missed the subsequent trip to Southampton through illness (Transfermarkt).
The Latest: Saint-Maximin worry for Howe…
Ahead of the visit to Chelsea today, it is touch-and-go as to whether Saint-Maximin will return for the Stamford Bridge clash, with the 25-year-old in a ‘fitness fight’ alongside Joelinton, as per Lee Ryder.
Indeed, as also relayed by The Guardian, Newcastle’s exciting winger is ‘doubtful’ to face off against Thomas Tuchel’s side in a potential worry for Howe.
The Verdict: Potential blow…
As the recently rejuvenated Newcastle aim to continue their remarkable run, potentially being without Saint-Maximin this afternoon would seriously hamper their chances of another victory.
The former Nice star is by some distance Howe’s most threatening player in the final third, averaging a simply sensational 4.5 successful take-ons per 90 in the league this season (WhoScored).
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He also takes more shots per match than any Magpies player (two) and boasts the most goals and assists combined (5G, 3A), leaving little wonder why BBC radio pundit Noel Whelan has described him as a ‘massive player’ for Newcastle.
Supporters will be hoping that the 25-year-old is indeed available today, but at the time of writing, it seems less than certain.
In other news: Offer made: PIF enter talks to sign ‘perfect’ player for Howe after Newcastle development in last 72 hours, find out more here.
Scorecard Bangladesh Under-19 helped themselves to some batting practice as their three-day match against South Africa Under-19 meandered to a draw at Sedgars Park in Potchefstroom. After conceding a 140-run first-innings lead, the Bangladeshis reached 208 for 2, courtesy half-centuries from Mithun Ali and Nadimuddin, before the match was called off.Opener Rony Talukder hit a couple of boundaries before falling to medium-pacer Dwaine Pretorius. Nadimuddin then joined Ali and the two added 105 runs for the second wicket. Ali was the more aggressive one in the partnership, picking off eleven boundaries as he top scored with 80. After Ali’s dismissal, Nadimuddin and Nasir Hossain added an unbroken 73 runs as the South African bowlers were made to toil. Nadimuddin, who had fallen for nought in the first innings, redeemed himself with a sedate unbeaten 72.Earlier, the hosts resuming on 393 for 4, crumbled to 434 all out. Reeza Hendricks moved to 156 before being bowled by Dolar Mahmud, who was Bangladesh’s most successful bowler. Mahmud ended with five while Rubel Hossain took three as the last six South African wickets fell for 23.The three-day match is followed by a triangular one-day tournament, scheduled to start on Tuesday, that also features India U-19.
Andrew Symonds is set for his first net session since injuring his right biceps but Ricky Ponting said the allrounder was still three to four weeks away from being 100% fit. Another three weeks on the sidelines would mean Symonds would miss all of Australia’s group matches.Symonds will have throw-down training with a tennis ball in St Vincent today but will not throw or bowl, the reported. Symonds had surgery on his ruptured muscle a month ago and Ponting said it had been a risk naming him in the World Cup squad.”We have taken a bit of a gamble with him coming here, but it’s one that we think is very worth taking,” Ponting told the paper. “Andrew Symonds is going to get picked in any World XI one-day team over the last couple of years and will probably be picked over the next three or four years. He’s a very important player to our team. That’s why we’ve taken that risk.”Ponting said Australia remained confident Symonds would be ready to play at the business-end of the tournament. “We’ve got lots of great back-up players back in Australia, guys we could have brought and left Andrew out,” he said.”But with the advice we’ve been given, we think in another three to four weeks he should be right and 100% ready to go. If he is then he’ll play a big part for us in the World Cup, no doubt about it.”